Pulaski International School of Chicagohttp://www.pulaskischool.org
Fri, 05 Jun 2020 02:32:43 +0000en-US
hourly
1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.4.1http://www.pulaskischool.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/cropped-pulaski-favicon-32x32.pngPulaski International School of Chicagohttp://www.pulaskischool.org
3232Student Item Retrieval Procedures, Dates and Timeshttp://www.pulaskischool.org/student-item-retrieval-procedures-dates-and-times/
Fri, 05 Jun 2020 02:32:41 +0000http://www.pulaskischool.org/?p=3354[...]]]>Please click below or see the School Calendar on this website to find out when your student may pick up any personal items still left at school.

The last few months have been a huge transition for all of us, and I want to thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to work through details and adjust to remote learning. Because our building will be closed for the rest of the school year, we have developed a plan––in accordance with clear guidance from the district––that will allow you to collect your child’s personal items from school as safely as possible. Our school will be following the schedule below for item retrieval.

You do not have to come to pick up belongings if you do not feel comfortable in doing so. If you have children in more than one grade level, you can pick which time works best for your family (in their assigned times) and pick up for all of your children. If you do not come to pick up your belongings on your designated day and time, and if you do not contact Ms. Racasi dtracasi@cps.edu or Ms. Rodriguez crodriguez232@cps.edu, any belongings left behind will be discarded.

]]>New Student Enrollment for Pulaski School Year 2020-2021/ Inscripción de nuevos estudiantes para el año escolar 2020-2021 de la Escuela Pulaskihttp://www.pulaskischool.org/new-student-enrollment-for-pulaski-school-year-2020-2021-inscripcion-de-nuevos-estudiantes-para-el-ano-escolar-2020-2021-de-la-escuela-pulaski/
Fri, 05 Jun 2020 02:27:45 +0000http://www.pulaskischool.org/?p=3351[...]]]>If you have received an offer from Pulaski OR you reside in the neighborhood boundaries of Pulaski, please fill out the registration form below for NEW Kindergarten -8th grade students for the 2020-21 school year. If you have questions please contact Myra Rivera.

I hope this message finds you all safe and well. I write this letter with a heavy heart in response to the events that have taken place in so many cities across our nation over the past week. We have been bombarded by news coverage of protests, racial violence, and the current pandemic. These are extremely frightening times. We recognize we have a critical role to play to ensure the safety and emotional wellbeing of those we serve. I would like us to be mindful that many of Pulaski families and staff live across the city and their experiences may be drastically different.

We want to recognize the grief, outrage, fear, and confusion brought about by systemic racism, disproportional casualties from the coronavirus pandemic, and most recently, the murder of George Floyd. Our children, families, and staff are struggling to reconcile the gravity of the subsequent events and we stand ready to support in any way we can. It is imperative that we take time to process and feel emotions, talk about the sadness and hurt for the lives lost, and for their families who are suffering. The Pulaski staff stands united in support of our families, students, and community during this difficult time.

I would like to remind you all of the vision of all IB programmes, which is to develop internationally minded people who, recognizing their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world. The vision of all IB programmes is to develop internationally minded people who can recognize their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet. I would like us all to reflect on this as we, as a community, work towards this IB mission of creating a better and more peaceful world. We hope you have all taken the time to engage in the weekly IB task created by Mrs. Sanchez. Today, I ask that you take time to discuss the learner profile attributes with your children within the context of humanity, equality, and racism. Be courageous. These conversations will be difficult. Be prepared to be honest with your child and ask them if they have any questions. and be prepared to have difficult conversations, be honest with your child, and ask if they have any questions.

I’ve added a resource that may help you prepare.They’re not too young to talk about race! The handout will be shared on Class Dojo. Think about which attributes can be added to the conversation. What does it mean to be open-minded, reflective, and principled during this time? We want to express solidarity with the individuals, families, and communities of color who continue to be victimized unjustly. The IB action cycle asks that we reflect, choose and act. What can we do to create a more peaceful world?

We are committed to supporting you and will be responsive when it comes to providing social-emotional guidance. I want to ensure you that we will create opportunities for our students to explore racial injustice in safe and age-appropriate ways. I am prepared to support and encourage teachers to engage in conversations around race from a historical and current event standpoint. In the coming days, weeks, and months, we will be there to support you, your children, and your families through navigating this complex and tragic time. We look forward to listening, growing, and working toward a more inclusive and equitable world for our children and families. If you intend to open up a discussion with your children alongside the teachers in advance, consider utilizing some of these resources USA Today, Facing History and remember our job is to listen, to

acknowledge fear/pain, and help ALL students feel safe as best we can.

We can’t do this work alone; we need our parents to be partners to continue to explore the impact of race on our community. I will continue to actively pursue training likeSEED (Seeking Educational Equity & Diversity) Project. It is a multifaceted diversity training program that helps participants reflect on their own and others’ experiences while also exploring current theory on topics such as race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, structures and supports that forward equity and -foundation building.

The pressure to speak out on injustice is real and necessary. We should all be outraged by injustice. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” What action will you take to help create a more peaceful world? We must address these extremely difficult issues because this is what we are called to do. We take the role of educating our Sabers incredibly seriously. Our vision reads: promote intellectual and social collaboration among parents, students, staff and community members to achieve academic excellence and international mindedness. We seek to foster a community of knowledgeable, curious lifelong learners who are equipped with the skills and attitudes to think and act beyond themselves. The first sentence of our mission statement reads Pulaski is a caring community that provides a culture of collaboration, intellectual rigor, and civic consciousness. What does this look like in our actions?

]]>Update: Grab-and-go meals distribution will restart tomorrow, June 2, 2020 / Novedad: Se reiniciará la distribución de comidas mañana, 2 de junio de 2020http://www.pulaskischool.org/update-grab-and-go-meals-distribution-will-restart-tomorrow-june-2-2020-novedad-se-reiniciara-la-distribucion-de-comidas-manana-2-de-junio-de-2020/
Tue, 02 Jun 2020 03:29:12 +0000http://www.pulaskischool.org/?p=3321[...]]]>How are we going to move past our national turmoil? We’ve been struggling with this question and have yet to find a satisfactory answer. What we do know is that our school communities can be an important venue for open, honest discussion that allows us to critically consider how we got here as a country.

The outpouring of support in Chicago and across the country has filled many of us with hope that our nation may have finally decided things have to change. We support and stand with Chicagoans who are forcefully, yet peacefully, advocating for the rights of black and brown people. Unfortunately, this may be difficult to reconcile when wanton property damage is what gets the most attention in the news and on social media. However, we have to challenge ourselves to not lose sight of what drove hundreds of thousands of Americans to flood the streets, and the work that still lies ahead for all of us if we are to heal as a nation.

The work begins with having difficult conversations with the people we love and those we hardly know. Today, the district is releasing Say Their Names, a set of materials and resources to help you foster productive conversations. This toolkit was originally created as a resource for teachers, but now more than ever, it is critically important that we take these conversations out of the classroom and into our homes.

The decision to temporarily suspend meal distribution for a day was a difficult one to make because we know how much our families are counting on us. We continue to monitor the evolving situation in our communities, and will be reopening our meal sites tomorrow pending any significant developments.

Beginning tomorrow, there will be support from the Chicago Police Department in the vicinity of grab-and-go meal sites to ensure families can pick up meals in a safe and welcoming environment.

If you have additional questions or concerns or would like to sign up for meal delivery, please don’t hesitate to call the CPS Command Center at 773-553-KIDS.

]]>The Preschool Application Process is Now Open / El proceso de solicitud preescolar ya está abiertohttp://www.pulaskischool.org/the-preschool-application-process-is-now-open-el-proceso-de-solicitud-preescolar-ya-esta-abierto/
Thu, 28 May 2020 16:38:25 +0000http://www.pulaskischool.org/?p=3291For more details and to apply, go to the Chicago Early Learning website.

Apply soon as the application process is only open for a limited amount of time.

During Remote Learning, students are expected to engage with their teachers daily and submit all assignments. Teachers have been documenting engagement on a daily basis.

Teachers will make special considerations for students experiencing challenges with Remote Learning due to COVID-19. Challenges may be due to a variety of academic and SEL issues and will be considered on a case by case basis.

We committed that grades can do no harm to a student’s academic standing. This will be calculated at the final quarter grade level, not at the individual student assignment level. During 4th quarter, individual student assignments should continue to be graded and entered into the Gradebook as typical on a traditional A-F scale, with considerations for students who are experiencing challenges during remote learning. Pulaski students should still see grades entered for assignments in Reading, Math, Science, Social Studies, Writing and Single-Subject classes.

Students who maintain or improve cumulative grades will receive a letter grade

Students whose grades are at risk for a lower cumulative grade, but still demonstrated mastery and/or engagement to earn a passing grade will receive a “Pass”

Students who do not demonstrate mastery and/or engagement and who do not receive a passing grade will be issued an “Incomplete”

There is no late work penalty – any previously identified graded work submitted by the student will be entered as a full grade based on mastery of content.

What will students and parents see in Gradebook/Parent Portal?

Per CPS guidance, teachers will only issue an F for an assignment if teachers have made sure the student was aware of assignment expectations, and made efforts to communicate with the student and family about expectations.

Example of a Remote Learning Grade Progression Chart.

Q3 Reported Grade

Calculated Q4 Grade

Q4 Reported Term Grade

Final Reported Grade

A

A

A

Average of all four quarters

A

Passing grade less than A

Pass

Average of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd quarters

A

F

Incomplete

Incomplete

Q3 Reported Grade

Calculated Q4 Grade

Q4 Reported Term Grade

Final Reported Grade

B

B

B

Average of all four quarters

B

Greater than B

Calculated Q4 Grade

Average of all four quarters

B

Passing grade less than B

Pass

Average of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd quarters

B

F

Incomplete

Incomplete

Q3 Reported Grade

Calculated Q4 Grade

Q4 Reported Term Grade

Final Reported Grade

C

C

C

Average of all four quarters

C

Greater than C

Calculated Q4 Grade

Average of all four quarters

C

Passing grade less than C

Pass

Average of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd quarters

C

F

Incomplete

Incomplete

Q3 Reported Grade

Calculated Q4 Grade

Q4 Reported Term Grade

Final Reported Grade

D

D

D

Average of all four quarters

D

Greater than D

Calculated Q4 Grade

Average of all four quarters

D

F

Incomplete

Incomplete

Q3 Reported Grade

Calculated Q4 Grade

Q4 Reported Term Grade

Final Reported Grade

F

F

Incomplete

Incomplete

F

Greater than F

Calculated Q4 Grade

Average of all four quarters

Kindergarten Grading Policy

Your child’s levels of performance should not be lower than in previous quarters.

If your child showed progress for a core content area from third quarter, you teacher should indicate the appropriate higher level of performance (e.g. Developing –> Proficient)

If your child shows a regression in performance level, your teacher should default to the previously observed higher level of performance, while making note of the observed regression.

If the core content area has not been addressed and your teacher is unable to collect sufficient evidence of your child’s learning, your teacher will indicate “area not assessed in this reporting period.”

Single Subject Specialist Teachers

Students in K-3 will receive a letter grade or Pass.

If a student earns a letter grade for their fourth quarter term grade, then their final grade will average all four quarters.

If a student earns a Pass (P) for their fourth quarter term grade, then their final grade will automatically reflect the average of the first, second, and third quarters.

If a student earns an Incomplete (/) for their fourth quarter term grade, then the teacher should override their final grade and enter an Incomplete (/) (after all attempts to communicate and engage the family have been made.)

Generally speaking, on a weekly basis …

Students should receive feedback to improve assignments.

Grades should be updated.

But, grace and flexibility is encouraged (on both sides).

If there is a chronic occurrence with a particular teacher who isn’t updating grades or providing feedback for grade improvement, reach out to the teacher. If the situation doesn’t improve, reach out to an administrator for support.

What about students with DL and EL needs?

Teachers are working with their EL liaisons, SPED co-teachers, and Related Service Providers to focus the work on specific tasks that measure mastery/proficiency, reducing workload; grade through a lens of grace, flexibility, and empathy; and providing needed social-emotional supports.

What about students who don’t have access to digital Remote Learning?

The district has created Remote Learning packets for students who are unable to engage in digital remote learning. Printed learning packets are available at any CPS school if a family is unable to print the packets or is unable to access digital learning. Please reach out to your child’s teacher or administrator if this is a need.

In summary, it isn’t too late to re-engage! Teachers should not penalize students for late work. All students will receive feedback and opportunities to re-submit assignments that require improvement. We don’t expect to be perfect. We don’t expect to always get it “right.” When something isn’t perfect/right, please contact the teacher FIRST. If you need additional support, contact the administration.

]]>Second-Round High School Application Process / Segunda Ronda del Proceso de solicitud de High Schoolhttp://www.pulaskischool.org/second-round-high-school-application-process-segunda-ronda-del-proceso-de-solicitud-de-high-school/
Tue, 12 May 2020 19:26:41 +0000http://www.pulaskischool.org/?p=3261[...]]]>Second-Round HS Application Process
The second-round application process for high schools starts today, and ends on Monday, May 18th at 11:59 pm. You can now go in and create your applications, select the schools/programs of your choice, rank them in the order of their preference, and submit. It works just like first round applications.

They just released a full list of Choice Programs which I have attached to this email. You will notice that there are some good options being offered.
– ChiArts, LakeView, Lincoln Park and Ogden IB are some great schools that are close by that are participating.
– Mather and Taft High Schools are both great schools I would recommend but are a bit further from Pulaski.
– You will notice that quite a few of the Noble campuses are also participating as well.

PLEASE NOTE: You still must follow the schools minimum criteria to apply. For example, if you do not meet the minimum requirements for Ogden IB do not apply for the program as you will not be selected. You should only apply to schools where you meet their minimum criteria to get in.

There are two Selective Enrollment schools that still have available seats — King College Preparatory and South Shore International College Prep.

It is EXTREMELY important that I make it clear that if you accepted a Round 1 offer but apply in Round 2 and receive an offer, you will automatically forfeit your previously accepted Round 1 offer. Families that have already accepted a Round 1 offer SHOULD NOT APPLY in Round 2 unless they see programs available that they want to attend more than the offer they already accepted.

Second-Round Admissions Screenings
In light of the transition to remote learning, the admissions screenings procedures have been modified. Some programs will not require them for the second round, and others will have remote participation. Click here to access the complete list of Admissions Screenings, updates and instructions.

If you need any help navigating the system or if you want to know if you meet the minimum criteria for a particular school please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly. I am very happy to help!

We hope this email finds you and your loved ones healthy and safe. We’re writing to remind you that Round 1 elementary school results will be released on Friday, May 8, 2020 after 12 p.m. If you applied online, results will be posted on your GoCPS account. If you applied using a paper application, a notification letter will be mailed to the primary address on the application. In addition, an online GoCPS account has been opened for each paper applicant, and results will be posted there as well.

Please read below for additional information on how to access your results and accept or decline Round 1 offers.

Confirming Account Access

Please take a moment to ensure you are able to access your online GoCPS account. If you experience any issues, please call 773-553-2060 from the number associated with your account. This number is available on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., and you can also email gocps@cps.edu for assistance. Please note that GoCPS is optimized for Chrome and Safari web browsers.

Accepting or Declining Offers

You have until Friday, May 22, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. to accept or decline Round 1 offers before they are forfeited. A full timeline of subsequent application rounds and opportunities can be found on the GoCPS homepage in the Elementary School tab of the Important Dates section.

Understanding Elementary School Results

GoCPS has an Elementary School Selection page which features a series of videos to help you understand the selection process, including how to accept and decline offers. You can also read the elementary school FAQ for additional information.

If you have questions, contact the Office of Access and Enrollment at 773-553-2060 on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. or email gocps@cps.edu.

On April 17, Governor Pritzker announced that in-person instruction would be suspended for all Illinois schools through the end of the 2019-2020 school year. This was difficult news to hear, but we support the Governor’s decision to protect the health and safety of all Illinoisans.

While in-person instruction has ended for the year, remote learning is in full swing, and our teachers are doing their best to provide your children with the same high-quality instruction they had in the classroom. Today, we are writing to update you on how your child will be graded in the fourth quarter, as well as the recommendations we will be making to the Board of Education regarding graduation and promotion to the next grade level. We hope this information will help you keep your child engaged through the final two months of school while providing flexibility during this challenging time.

Grading and Promotion for Elementary Students

We recognize the challenges our students and families are facing due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, and we are recommending the Board of Education approve a modification to the promotion policy that will advance all elementary students to the next grade level in the fall. While student work will be graded to allow them to improve or maintain their third quarter grades, no student will receive a fourth quarter grade that falls below their third quarter grade. To ensure students are rewarded for their hard work while also providing flexibility, students will receive either a letter grade, Pass, or Incomplete based on the following criteria:

GPA is not impacted. Student is prioritized for Summer School if it is determined that Summer School can be held this year.

No access to digital instruction and did not complete printed work packets or engage with teacher

Had access to digital instruction and earned an F in Q4

GPAs, Promotion, and Graduation for High School Students

High schools will use a modified semester-based grading system that will provide students the opportunity to improve their GPA, which is important for students who are pursuing a postsecondary education. The grading system will also protect the academic standing of students who earn a lower grade in the fourth quarter. The district’s revised grading system will now allow students to improve their semester grade in order to earn a letter grade. At the high school level, students will receive either a letter grade, Pass, or Incomplete based on the following criteria:

GPA is not impacted. Student does not earn credit and is offered the opportunity to engage in credit recovery to meet graduation requirements.

No access to digital instruction and did not complete printed work packets or engage with teacher

Had access to digital instruction and earned a cumulative F in S2

The district will also recommend that the Board waive the following non-credit bearing graduation requirements for this year’s seniors: Service Learning, State-mandated Assessment (SAT/DLM-AA), Constitution Test, Financial Literacy, and Computer Science.

Engaging Students and Families and Ensuring a Strong Finish to the Year

Keeping students engaged and instilling a sense of normalcy are critical to their health and wellness and ensures students can continue making academic progress. We’ve developed a protocol to help schools track student engagement through a variety of metrics, including regular teacher check-ins for students who may need additional guidance. However, we ask families to work with their school to create a routine to keep their child engaged. Teachers will continue posting grades at the same frequency as usual. Please utilize the Parent Portal to monitor your child’s progress. Click here for more information on Parent Portal and contact your child’s school with questions.

While this is not the fourth quarter we envisioned for you, the school year is not over. Teachers will continue to teach. Students will continue to learn. The important work of education will not stop.

Finally, to the Class of 2020, we’re deeply sorry that you won’t be able to celebrate your prom and graduation with your friends and family. We remain hopeful that should the governor lift the stay-at-home order and public health officials deem it appropriate to gather in large groups this summer, school communities will find a way to celebrate your achievements.

We appreciate your patience and understanding. We will continue to update you regularly throughout the remainder of the school year.

I hope this message finds you well and safe in the comfort of your homes! I wanted to reach out and see how you were all doing and to provide any support that I may be able to during this time. I am available for one-on-one student social/emotional check-in’s either by phone or video chat. Please fill out this form here: https://forms.gle/JoCZsRvbGxJ9ENWB8. Additionally, please remember to visit our Pulaski website for all up-to-date city/government resources.

Let’s revisit some steps that you can take at home to make this time run as smooth as possible:

Stick to a (somewhat) normal schedule! Sticking to a normal daily routine and schedule will help!

Have a schedule visible for all to see.

Include learning time, snack breaks, movement breaks, quiet time, creative time, clean up time etc etc.

Parents, don’t forget to include your schedule on there too! Having your family see when you have ‘work time’ scheduled will help.

I have included a sample daily schedule and template for you to implement at home below!

Have something to look forward to.

Do you see a nice day coming up during the week? Plan a picnic lunch or a family bike ride (don’t forget to put it on the schedule!). Having something to look forward to will help children get what they need to get done so they can enjoy that fun activity during the day or in the evening.

Communication is key!!

We are all struggling right now and some of us can’t really express why or what we are feeling. It is even harder for small children, which can lead to breakdowns, tantrums and non-compliance.

Try your hardest to connect and communicate with your children at least one time per day in a way that they can relate and respond to. Some examples could be:

Ask your child to write or draw their feelings

Ask your child to rate how they are feeling from 1-5

Have them draw a person/ face that shows how they feel

Ask them to reflect on their day, what is one thing that they enjoyed and one thing they would change?

I have included a Social Emotional Learning (SEL) electronic exit slip for your use.

Do they need a break? Have them…

Take some quiet time on their own

Do a chore

Get a drink of water

Do some stretches

Put on a kids exercise video

Take some deep breaths

Do a puzzle

Listen to a favorite song

Dance

I hope this information is helpful to some of you. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any specific questions.